Big Four Construction Hazards:

Electrical Hazards

This material was produced under grant number SH-17792-08-60-F-48 Occupational Safety and Health Administration,
U.S. Department of Labor. It does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Labor,
nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

Introduction
The following presentations have been developed in
both Spanish and English for the construction industry.
These presentations focus on the Big Four Construction
Hazards falls, electrocution, caught-in, and
struck-by.
All training materials will cover the four hazards
seen regularly on construction sites and will focus on the
methods for the recognition and the prevention of these
common hazards.

Electrical Hazards - Overview

A. Electrical Hazards What is Electricity?
1. Improper Grounding
2. Exposed Electrical Parts
3. Inadequate Wiring
5. Damaged Insulation
6. Overloaded Circuits
7. Damaged Tools & Equipment
8. Wet Conditions
9. Overhead Power Lines
B. Accident Prevention:
1. Personal Protective Equipment
2. Inspect Tools & Cords
3. GFCIs
4. Lock-Out/Tag-Out

Electrical Hazards
Electrocutions are one of the greatest
hazards on construction sites.

This program will help you recognize

common fall hazards.

Safe

The symbols will tell you if the situation in

the picture is either safe or not safe.
Not safe

Electrical Hazards Statistics

Each year workers die
from contacting electric
current. During the year
2007:
212 workers died after
contacting electric
current
108 were construction
workers
Nearly 5% of all
deaths result from
electrocutions

What is electricity?
Electricity is a natural
energy force.
Electricity is also a man
made energy force.
It is essential to modern
life and taken for granted
everyday.

What is Electricity?
Electricity flows through
conductors.
Conductors include
metals, water, the Earth
and the human body.
Electricity must have a
complete circuit or path
to flow.

How Electricity Works

When electrical tools are
working properly a
complete circuit is
maintained between the
tool and the energy
source.

How Electricity Works

However, if the tool is
damaged the person may
come in contact with the
electricity and can
become a path for the
current.
The person will be
shocked!

Electrical Hazards
The following is a list of a common electrical hazards
found on construction sites:

Improper grounding
Exposed electrical parts
Inadequate wiring
Overhead power lines

Damaged insulation
Overloaded circuits
Wet conditions
Damaged tools and equipment

Improper Grounding
Grounding is the process
used to eliminate
unwanted voltage.
A ground is a physical
electrical connection to
the earth.

Improper Grounding
Electrical equipment must
be properly grounded.
Grounding reduces the
risk of being shocked or
electrocuted.

Improper Grounding
The ground pin safely
returns leakage current
to ground.
Never remove the
ground pin.

Improper Grounding
Removing the ground pin
removes an important
safety feature.
You can get shocked!

Exposed Electrical Parts

Exposed wires or
terminals are hazardous.
Report these conditions
to your supervisor.

Exposed Electrical Parts

This electrical panel has
missing circuit breakers.
Never use a panel that
has exposed wires.

Exposed Electrical Parts

All openings must
be closed.

Exposed Electrical Parts

Outer insulation on
electrical cords must
be intact.

Exposed Electrical Parts

On construction sites, temporary lighting must be
properly guarded and protected to avoid contact with
broken bulbs and avoid potential shocks.

Inadequate Wiring
Use properly rated
extension cords.
Make sure your
power tools are
being used with a
properly rated
xtension cord.

Inadequate Wiring
DIFFERENT TYPES OF WIRES WITH THEIR ELECTRICAL
CURRENT RATING

Damaged Insulation
Defective or inadequate
insulation is a hazard.
Insulation prevents
conductors from
contacting each other or
you.

Damaged Insulation
Never attempt to repair a damaged cord with tape.

Damaged Insulation
Never use tools or
extension cords with
damaged insulation.

Damaged Insulation
Never hang extension cords from nails or sharp objects.

Damaged Insulation
Do not run extension
cords through doors or
windows.

Overloaded Circuits
Overloaded circuits can
cause fires.
Use proper circuit
breakers.

Overloaded Circuits
Never overload an
outlet.

Overloaded Circuits
Do not use power strips
or surge protectors on
construction sites.
Use a 3-way extension
with a GFCI instead.

Damaged Tools and Equipment

Do not use
electric tools that
are damaged.
You may receive
a shock or be
electrocuted.

Damaged Tools and Equipment

Double insulated tools are labeled.
It will be marked Double Insulated.
It will have the following symbol:

Wet Conditions
Wet conditions are
hazardous.
Damaged insulation
increases the hazard.

Wet Conditions
Always avoid using tools
in wet locations.
Water increases the risk
of electric shock.

Overhead Power Lines

Survey the site for
overhead power lines.
Never store materials or
equipment under overhead
power lines.

Overhead Power lines

Maintain a distance of at
least 10 between tools
and equipment and
overhead power lines.

Shocks and electrocutions

occur where physical
barriers are not in place
to prevent contact with
the wires.

Overhead Power lines

Maintain safe distances
between scaffolding and
overhead power lines.

Overhead Power lines

Overhead power lines are
very dangerous.
Never attempt to contact
an overhead power line.

Quiz
You will be presented
with a specific hazard
recognition question to
test your understanding
of this material.

Question 1
The process of grounding is:
A Falling to the ground
B Standing in one place
C Making a physical connection to Earth
D None of the above

Question 1
The process of grounding is:
The correct answer is:
C Making a physical connection to Earth

Question 2
You should remove the ground pin from
electrical cords because it is not necessary.
A True
B False

Question 2
You should remove the ground pin from
electrical cords because it is not necessary.
The correct answer is:
B False

Question 3
It is acceptable to have missing breakers from
an electrical panel box.
A True
B False

Question 3
It is acceptable to have missing breakers from
an electrical panel box.
The correct answer is:
B False

Question 4
When working under overhead power lines, the
minimum safe distance between equipment and
the overhead lines is:
A 8 feet
B 20 feet
C 10 feet
D 12 feet

Question 4
When working under overhead power lines, the
minimum safe distance between equipment and
the overhead lines is:
The correct answer is:
C 10 feet

Question 5
When the insulation on a cord is damaged, you
should:
A Use duct tape to repair it
B Do nothing
C Remove it from service immediately
D Touch the conductors to see it they are energized

Question 5
When the insulation on a cord is damaged, you
should:
The correct answer is:
C Remove it from service immediately

Accident Prevention
A willing, positive
attitude towards
safety will help
make a safer work
environment.

Accident Prevention
Always consider these
safety precautions:
Personal protective
equipment (PPE),
Inspect tools,
Ground fault circuit
interrupters (GFCIs),
Lock-out/tag-out.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

PPE for electrical hazards
include:
hardhats
rubber or insulating
gloves
insulating clothing

NEVER use damaged

PPE!

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Use appropriate rubber insulating
gloves.
Make sure the gloves fit properly.
Make sure the glove rating matches
with the work to be performed.
Not all gloves can be used to prevent
electric shock.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Hard hats offer
protection.
Hard hats are rated for
certain uses.
Metal hard hats
SHOULD NOT be used
when working close to
electrical lines.

Inspect Tools and Cords

Inspect tools and cords
completely before using
for:
cracks
damaged insulation
broken ground pins
frayed line cord
loose parts
any other damage

GFCI
OSHA requires the use
of GFCIs on all
construction sites.

GFCI
A GFCI is a fast-acting
circuit breaker.
It senses small
imbalances in the circuit
caused by current
leakage to ground.

GFCI
It continually matches the
amount of current coming
and going to an electrical
device.

The GFCI looks for a

difference of approximately
5 milliamps.

Lock-out/Tag-out
Workers must
ensure electricity is
off and lockedout before work is
performed.

Lock-out/Tag-out
The switch must be
tagged.
The tag lets others know
why the switch is off.

Lock-out/Tag-out
Locks and tags are
warning signs.
You must be trained in
lock-out/tag-out
procedures.

Quiz
You will be presented
with a specific accident
prevention question to
test your understanding
of this material.

Question 1
GFCIs should be used in the following conditions:
A Wet or damp locations
B On construction sites
C Both A & B
D Neither A & B

Question 1
GFCIs should be used in the following conditions:
The correct answer is:
C Both A & B

Question 2
3-way extensions with GFCIs can be used on
construction sites:
A True
B False

Question 2
3-way extensions with GFCIs can be used on
construction sites:
The correct answer is:
A True

Question 3
Which of the following PPE should be worn
when working with electricity?
A Metal hard hat and insulated gloves & clothing
B Non-metallic hard hat and insulated gloves &
clothing
C Non-metallic hard hat and non-insulated gloves &
clothing
D Metal hard hat and non-insulated gloves & clothing

Question 3
Which of the following PPE should be worn
when working with electricity?
The correct answer is:
B Non-metallic hard hat and insulated gloves &
clothing

Question 4
When inspecting tools to see if they are
damaged, what should you look for?
A Cracks
B Damaged insulation
C Broken/removed ground pins
D All the above

Question 4
When inspecting tools to see if they are
damaged, what should you look for?
The correct answer is:
D All the above

Question 5
A Lock-out/Tag-out system is used to:
A Keep people from stealing your tools
B Prevent accidental contact with electrical current
C Keep you from completing your work
D Add another step to your work

Question 5
A Lock-out/Tag-out system is used to:
The correct answer is:
B Prevent accidental contact with electrical current

Disclaimer/Usage Notes
Photos shown in this presentation may depict situations that are not in
compliance with applicable OSHA requirements.
It is not the intent of the content developers to provide compliance-based
training in this presentation, the intent is more to address hazard
awareness in the construction industry, and to recognize the overlapping
hazards present in many construction workplaces.
It should NOT be assumed that the suggestions, comments, or
recommendations contained herein constitute a thorough review of the
applicable standards, nor should discussion of issues or concerns be
construed as a prioritization of hazards or possible controls. Where opinions
(best practices) have been expressed, it is important to remember that
safety issues in general and construction jobsites specifically will require a
great deal of site - or hazard-specificity - a one size fits all approach is
not recommended, nor will it likely be very effective.
It is assumed that individuals using this presentation, or content, to
augment their training programs will be qualified to do so, and that said
presenters will be otherwise prepared to answer questions, solve problems,
and discuss issues with their audiences.

Disclaimer/Usage Notes
No representation is made as to the thoroughness of the presentation, nor
to the exact methods of recommendation to be taken. It is understood that
site conditions vary constantly, and that the developers of this content
cannot be held responsible for safety problems they did not address or
could not anticipate, nor those which have been discussed herein or during
physical presentation. It is the responsibility of each employer contractor
and their employees to comply with all pertinent rules and regulations in
the jurisdiction in which they work. Copies of all OSHA regulations are
available form your local OSHA office. This presentation is intended to
discuss Federal Regulations only your individual State requirements may
be more stringent.
As a presenter, you should be prepared to discuss all of the potential
issues/concerns, or problems inherent in those photos particularly.

Big Four
Construction Hazards:
Electrical Hazards
This concludes the
Electrical Hazards Module
The End